TRHH-herb pair prevents IL-1β-induced degeneration of endplate chondrocytes in vitro

The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta （IL-1β） plays a key role in the process of intervertebral disc degenera- tion （IVDD）. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of pharmaco-serum of ＂Taoren-Honghua-herb pair＂ on IL-1β- induced chondrocyte degeneration in vitro. Taoren （Semen persicae） and Honghua （Safflower carthamus） were administered to the rats, and the pharmaco-serum was collected and prepared. Chondrocytes of the third passage, isolated from the rat＇s vertebral endplates, were treated by standard medium only （Group NC）, IL-1β （Group IL） or combination of IL-1β and pharmaco-serum （Group TRHH）. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined, and the expression of aggrecan, Col2ul, Coll0ul, IL-6 and SOX9 at the mRNA level in chondrocytes was quantified by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry staining of type II and X collagen and Safranine O staining were also used to evaluate the chondrocytes. Compared with the Group NC, IL-1β treatment inhibited the cell proliferation and induced the cell apoptosis （P〈0.05）, and the expression of aggrecan, Col2αl and SOX9 at the mRNA level was down-regulated. In contrast, the expression of Coll0ul and IL-6 was up-regulated after IL-1β treatment （P〈0.05）. Meanwhile, the immune-staining of type II collagen and Safranine O staining were decreased, while the staining of type X collagen was increased. Compared with the Group IL, cell proliferation was increased, and apoptosis of chondrocytes was decreased when cells were treated with the pharmaco-semm of TRHH-herb pair （P〈0.05）. The expression of aggrecan, Col2cd and SOX9 at the mRNA level was up-regulated, while that of Coll0cd and IL-6 was down-regulated （P〈0.05）. Saffanine O staining also showed increased positive staining （P〈0.05）. Taken together, the treatment of pharmaco-serum of TRHH-herb pair could prevent endplate chondrocyte degeneration induced by IL-1β.